As per previous years, ACS will be operating different working hours during the Christmas and New Year period.  For full details, please see the full statement on our Support Website.

After many years of advertising the supposed immunity of Mac OS from Viruses and other Malware, Apple as has quietly reversed its’ position and recommended that Apple users install some form of AntiVirus software.  The brief article on Apple’s Support website recommends that Apple users should install some form of AntiVirus software to provide an additional layer of protection.

Although this article is not a reversal of Apple’s position on the susceptibility of Mac OS to viruses, it is a tacit recognition that Apple users are not immune to a variety of potential Web Application security threats.

Our experience has been that Mac OS users have been reluctant to install any form of AntiVirus protection, often stating the mantra that Mac’s don’t get viruses.  From our perspective, anyone who uses e-mail has a Duty of Care not further spread or diseminate malware.  We have seen a Mac user receive an e-mail that included a Windows Virus – which wouldn’t affect his machine – and then forward it onto a PC that thankfully did have AntiVirus protection installed that detected and eliminated the virus.

Irrespective of individual views on the entire Apple vs PC debate, it has always been the recommendation of ACS that every computer should have some form of AntiVirus protection installed that is updated regularly.

There are AntiVirus products for Mac OS available in the marketplace, and they do work.  Apple’s article suggest three (from Intego, Symantec and McAfee), but we have always had a positive experience using Sophos AntiVirus.